First Impressions. When you meet someone, what do you notice first?

[susans]

Lets face it, we are all critical in our own ways.  When you meet someone for the first time,  what do you notice first?  If their shoes are clean?  Are they dressed well?  Do you look at their hands?  Smile?   What do you look at?

Personally I look at someones eyes and see if they look back at me, through me or avoid me.  

[rondort]

Overall neatness in the way someone dresses.   I look to see if clothes are ironed, matches, and doesn't look outdated.  To be frank, I look to see if I look better than they do.

[jennika]

As I was just introduced to someone, I can honestly answer this easily!   The first thing I noticed when introduced to a friend's friend is she had a stain on her blouse from what looks like it was lunch.  I will admit, I focused in on that and the rest of the first impressions were washed out the window.  I think I tend to focus on if the person's posture other times but the stain caught my eye today.  Maybe it is different at each person I look.

[susans]

I know the looking at hands is true.  I experienced that one, I had fiberglass nails at the time and one snapped off completely (9 beautiful nails, one stubby bare one).   Within 10 seconds of meeting someone they mentioned ahh what a shame my nail broke.  I was like wow, that is the first thing this person tuned in on. It wasn't even on my right hand (the one you shake with!)   It was such a small detail but does show it may be the little mishaps people notice first.

[raindance]

The first thing I notice about people is their demeanour and general behaviour - are they courteous, smiling, do they look at me when speaking, what is their handshake like etc.  The next thing I notice is their general presentation - neatness etc.  Good manners - or the lack of them - make a bigger impression on me than clothing.  

Raindance

[geminigirl]

What do I notice first?  I think it’s someone’s overall demeanour – how they carry & present themselves.  I also notice if they do or don’t make eye contact (I worked with someone once who only ever talked to women’s décolletages!

I do notice laddered tights, scuffed or unpolished shoes, dirty or unironed clothes. Susan mentioned nails … I had a meeting with someone (who’d specifically come to ask my advice about how to get on in a support role) whose painted nails were chipped and flaking … that bothered me so much that, about 5 years after meeting this person, that is still the main thing I remember about her (that and having to have a man in her life … but that’s another story!).

I know a lot of what I've said is all about appearance but I think that if a person can't be bothered to take care of themselves, what is their standard of work going to be like?  (Yes, I know it doesn't always signifiy!)
I have a thing about manners too – hate people who are rude – and inappropriate behaviour.

[laurafmcdermott]

When meeting women the first things I notice are lips and lipstick.  It's amazing how many people either wear a shade that is very unflattering, or walk around with a dark lipliner circle after the lipstick has worn off.  If you're not going to reapply, go bare!  Chapped lips make me wince and make me want to hand them a chapstick.  When meeting men I notice eye contact first.

[itsme_calista]

Gosh, you know I don't know! :0$  Probably their eyes and demeanour.

I'm dreadful with names and faces unfortunately so I try to make extra effort to remember those and honestly never think to look at nails, lipstick, clothes LOL.

[spitfire78]

For me it's their handshake.  I absolutely despise a wimpy handshake.  A nice firm handshake (without being a bone-crusher) impresses me the most.

[Atlanta Z3]

I agree with the other poster I don't like whimpy handshakes - here is the southern US, women are taught to be limp lillies - blick.   I notice clothes and purses.  If you spent more than a couple of hundred on that suitcase you call a purse it's a negative.  Why do women need purses the size of a small football stadium?  My dh keeps my pumps polished for me, if your shoes are scuffed or the heels peeling, more points off.  If you are dressed for a night life during the day even more points lost.  I dress for work - no I'm not always perfecly ironed, but I'm age appropriate and properly attired for my office.

[gee4]

Eye contact - never trust someone who cannot look you in the eye!

[msmarieh]

I generally look at their eyes, to see if they have a smile on their face, and how firm is their handshake. I don't generally worry too much about clothes unless they are dressed grossly inappropriately for the situation (and even then I rarely care). I also don't really notice makeup unless it is grossly overdone and heavy.

Marie

[keishaqueenb]

I look first at personal hygene, secondly, I look at their teeth.  I hate that I do that because it can be a bit distracting if someone has bad oral hygene.